Traction apparatus



June 3, 1958 I 5, c, TONG 2,837,085

TRACTION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|.

3y @Mj m/ June 3, 1958 G. c. TONG 2,837,085

' TRACTION APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1956. v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mme/V7423 6222 15 [I 724 2,837,085- TRACTION APPARATUS George Claud Tong, St. Louis, Mo.

Application August 15, 1956, Seriai No. 604,268

3 Claims. (Cl. 128-75) This invention relates to traction apparatus.

The broad idea of applying traction intermittently to the human head is not a new one. Yellin Patents Nos. 2,633,124 and 2,633,125 disclose devices for applying such intermittent traction. However, the apparatus known heretofore for applying such traction has been somewhat cumbersome and has lacked versatility.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide traction apparatus by which not only cervical but lumbar and leg traction can be applied, in any position from vertical to horizontal.

Another object is to provide traction apparatus which is portable and versatile.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a traction apparatus, adjustable sheaves of unique construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a traction apparatus with a head harness which is more comfortable and effective than head harnesses known heretofore.

Still another object of this invention is to provide selfcontained traction apparatus which can be used in conjunction with a chair, bed, or table Still another object of this invention is to provide traction apparatus using a flexible cable the effective length of which may be varied by changing the positions of sheaves over which the cable runs.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the following description and accompanying drawing.

In accordance with this invention generally stated, traction apparatus is provided which includes an elongated base, a vertical post extending upwardly from the base, a plurality of sheaves carried by the vertical post and being selectively positionable along the post, a flexible cable extending about the sheaves, and means for imparting a reciprocating motion to the cable. The vertical post supports a laterally offset member which extends over the base and upon which a sheave is mounted. A bumper bracket is provided which is adjustable laterally in the same direction as the laterally offset member. The

bumper bracket is preferably carried by the vertical post and provides a means for gauging and adjusting the distance of the apparatus from a chair, table or bed.

The base is mounted on wheels or rollers so that the apparatus is portable. The center of gravity of the apparatus is such that when the base is positioned beneath a chair, table or bed, with the bumper bracket in contact with the article of furniture, the device is stable and need not be otherwise anchored, no matter what the angle, between horizontal and vertical, at which the traction is being applied.

A head harness is provided for use with the traction apparatus. The head harness includes a pair of traction straps suspended from a spreader bar connected to the end of the cable, each of the traction straps carrying at its lower end a ring; a chin piece extending between the rings; an occipital strap extending between the rings, and a forehead strap also extending between the rings.

United States PatentO ice The occipital and forehead straps are adjustable and are so arranged with the rings as to form a toggle. By this arrangement, the head of a patient is grasped not only beneath the patients chin but also, by the toggle action, between the occipital and forehead straps so as to distribute the pressure, hence to make the apparatus more comfortable and effective.

The sheaves are preferably made with a large hub which is mounted on the vertical post by means of a quick acting clamp, so that their positions may be varied easily. The cable is so arranged about the sheaves that its effective length can be varied by shifting the sheaves relative to one another, and the cable can be used to provide horizontal traction on a bed or table with no more than a simple adjustment of a sheave from its position at which vertical traction is obtained.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of one illustrative embodiment of a traction device constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation showing a sheave and clamping member in place on a vertical post member of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly in section, of a vertical post member;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing a motor and a cable driving arm within the motor housing;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspec tive showing a bumper bracket;

Figure 10 is a view in side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 in use to apply vertical cervical traction; and

Figure '11 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the device of this invention in use to apply substantially horizontal cervical traction.

Referring now to the drawing for an illustrative embodiment of this invention, reference numeral 1 indicates a T-shaped base, the stem 2 of which is made up of a rectangular frame and the cross member 3 of which is made up of a rigid channel. The base 1 is mounted on casters 4. A motor housing 10 is mounted on the stem 2 of the base. A motor 12 is mounted on the base within the housing 10. A gear box 13 is operatively connected to the motor. A crank arm 14 is keyed to the output shaft of the gear box 13. The motor 12. is

provided with a suitable electrical connection 6 to a power source not here shown, and is controlled by an on and off switch 7- at the end of a flexible electrical conductor 8.

A vertical post 15 is secured to and within the motor housing 10. The vertical post 15 of the illustrative embodiment shown is made up of two post members 16, which are spaced apart and maintained in their spaced position by top and bottom spacers 18. The post mem bers 16 are tubular as shown particularly in Figure 3. In this embodiment, they are jointed at 17, the upper and lower sections of the members being demountably connected by tenons 19 secured within one of the sections. Between the post members, spaced vertically and offset laterally from one another, are an upper sheave 30 and a lower sheave 35.

At the upper end of the post 15 is a horizontal oifset member 20, which is fastened to the post 15 between the post members 16. A brace 21 extends from one end of the member 20, diagonally, to the post 15, The offset member 29 extends over but not beyond the stem 2 of the base, and carries, at its outer free end, a sheave 25.

A flexible cable 40 is connected at one of its ends to a pivot :pin 41 projecting from the crank 1-4. The cable 40 extends through a slot in the motor housing .10, between guide rollers -42, as shown particularly in Figure 8, around the upper side of the upper sheave 30, around the lower side of the lower sheave 35, and, in'the situation of the device shown in Figures 1 and 10, around the upper part of the sheave 25. In the embodiment shown, the free end of the cable is provided with a hook :33, upon which a traction gauge 4-5 is carried. Detachably mounted on the traction gauge 45, by means of :an S-hook 46, is a spreader bar 50.

An adjustable bumper bracket 55 is bolted to the vertical post 15, as shown in Figure 2. The adjustable bumper bracket 55 in the embodiment shown consists of a cross bar 56 in which are slideably mounted two L-shaped adjusting bars 57. The adjustingbars 57 are locked in any desired position by set screws 58.

The sheaves 30 and 35 are identical in construction. Each is mounted-on a large hub 31. The hub 31 is T-shaped in cross-section, as shown in Figure 4, with an axle section 32 and an annular flange 33. The axle section 32 has a greater diameter than the width .of the post member 15, and is thicker than the sheave,.to ensure clearance for rotation for the sheave between the post member and the annular flange. Cross bars 34 extend slideably through the axle section of the hub 31 on either side of the post members 16, embracing the .post members 16 between them, as shown in Figure 3. The cross bars 34 are secured at one end to a fixed block 36. .Each of the cross bars 3 is threaded at its other-end. A spacer block 37 is slideably mounted on the cross bars 34, and serves to space the hub 31 from one of the post members 16, as shown in Figures 3 and 4-. It can be seen that by turning .the hub 31 so that the flange 33 is on the side opposite from that shown in Figure 4, and by putting the'spacer block 37 on the opposite side from that shown in Figure 4, the sheave will be offset from the center line between the post members 16 on the opposite side from that shown in Figures 3 and 4. This is What is done with one of the sheaves 3t} and 35 so that the two sheaves are offset from one another sufficiently to permit the cable 3 to clear thelower sheave 35 .as the cable extends-from the guide rollers 42 to the upper sheave 30. A sliding block 38 is slideably mounted on the cross bars 34 onthe "side of the post 15 opposite the fixed block 35. A cam shaft 39 is also slideably mounted on the cross bars 34. trically mounted on the cam shaft 39, to bear on the sliding block. Thumb nuts 61 are screwed onto the threaded ends or" the cross bars 34-, bearing against the cam shaft 39. in this embodiment, the inside face of each of the blocks 36 and 38 is provided with a teat 62 which extends into a hole 63 in the outside'face of the post members, to provide a positive anchorage for the sheave.

A head harness 39 is carried by the spreader bar 50. The head harness 8t. is made up of two traction straps 1, mounted on the spreader bar 39 by means of rings 2. Each of the traction straps 81 carries at its lower 'nd a ring A chin piece 84, which carries a heavy am rubber pad 35 on its inside surface, is connected its ends to the rings 83. An occipital strap St? is adstably connected to the rings 33. A forehead strap '7 is also adjustably connected to the rings 83. As shown in Figures and ll, the lengths of the chin piece Cid and the occipital and forehead straps 86 and 87 are such as to bring the position of the ring 83 above a line connecting the lowermost edges of the occipital and forehead straps. Thus, a pull applied to the traction straps 31 causes the occipital and forehead straps to act like a toggle, gripping the head between them, and relieving the chin piece of some of the tractive force which A cam 60 is rotatably and eccenotherwise would be transmitted to it. At the same time, the arrangement of the spreader bar is such as to tend to pull the rings away from the temples and ears. To this end, the bar is preferably made about eighteen inches long, and the traction straps are connected to it about one-half inch from its ends.

The operation of the'apparatus of this invention is illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. In producing vertical traction as shown in Figure 10, the effective length of the cable is adjusted by moving the'sheaves 30 and with respect to one another by raising the handle of the cam 66), to release the sliding and stationary blocks, and clamping them in the desired position :by lowering the handle when the blocks are properly positioned with their teats in position to extend into the appropriate holes in the post met bers. The patient is seated in a chair, with the stem of the T-shaped base beneath the-chair as shown. The adjusting bars 57 may 'be-moved to a position at which they bear against the back of the chair, although in a straight vertical pull, the apparatus will have no tendency to move. The head harness is put on, and the patient may control the device himself by merely operating the switch '7.

When it is desired to produce a substantially horizontal traction, it is only necessary to wheel the apparatus to the end of a table or bed, lift the cable from the sheave 25, and adjust the effective length of the cablebymoving the sheaves 3t and 35 withrespect to one another, and by adjusting the position of the adjusting b21115 57. Either the head harness or a lumbar or leg harness may be used, and the patient can also operate the device with the switch 7, if desired.

It can be seen that any angle of traction between the horizontal and vertical can be achieved by the use of the apparatus of this invention. it can also be seenthat the device canbe used, with a sling, to lift patients and to move them, for example from a bed to a stretcher. It can also be used as a straight traction device, as in setting bones, since the motor can be stopped at anydesired position of the crank 14.

The distance from the center of the gear case shaft to the pivot pin 41 of the crank 14- is preferably about two and one half inches, producing a length of pull=of five inches, although this can be varied if desired. The rate of rotation may also be-varied, although about four revolutions per minute has been found satisfactory.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1..In a traction apparatus having a base, a vertical post, a plurality of sheaves carried by said post, -a cable extending about said sheaves and a motor mounted on said base and connected to drive said cable reciprocally, the improvement comprising said posts being constituted by two spaced members; a sheave mounted between said members on a hub'having a diameter greater than the width of said post members, cross bars extending through said hub and embracing said post members between them, and clamping means carried by said cross bars and adapted to clamp against said post members to maintain said sheaves in any of 'a plurality of positions along saidpost.

2. A traction apparatus having a base, a post extending from said base and having an intermediate vertical section and an'upper section extending transversely from the vertical section of said post, a plurality of sheaves releasably mounted on the vertical section of said post and offset laterally from one another and a sheave mounted on the transverse upper section, a motor mounted on the base, and a cable, driven reciprocally by said motor, and extending upwardly from reciprocating mechanism on said base over an upper of the sheaves mounted on the vertical section of the post, thence aroundthe lower side ,of a lower of the sheaves mounted on the vertical section. of said post, said sheaves being selectively adjustable with respect to one another along said vertical section.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base is elongated and provided with wheels, the post is positioned at a substantial distance from one end of the base, the upper transverse section extends above the base in the direction of the end of the base away from the post, the sheave on the upper transverse section is unobstructed around its upper part, the cable extends from around the lower side of the lower sheave to and around the upper part of the sheave on the upper section, and the post carries a bumper bracket having members adjustable laterally and extending in the direction of the upper transverse section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 923,862 Langworthy June 8, 1909 1,213,373 Hollowell Jan. 23, 1917 10 2,186,036 Peachey Jan. 9, 1940 2,633,125 Yellin Mar. 31, 1953 

